The Eastwick Bulletin: Week of July 8th

Serving the residents and neighbors of Eastwick, Southwest Philadelphia, since our founding. The Eastwick Bulletin is published weekly to keep our community informed, connected, and empowered.

Welcome to this week's edition of The Eastwick Bulletin!

We hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend. As the summer heat intensifies, this week's newsletter focuses on keeping our community safe during extreme weather events, while also highlighting the fantastic free educational and recreational programs available right here in our neighborhood.

🌟 POSITIVE UPDATE: Summer Programs Keep Eastwick Youth Engaged and Active

This summer, our community institutions are stepping up to provide incredible, free programming for Eastwick's youth, ensuring they remain engaged, learning, and active while school is out.

The Free Library of Philadelphia has launched its "Summer Quest" initiative, available right here at the Eastwick branch (6641 Eastwick Avenue). This comprehensive summer learning program offers activities for children, teens, and adults. A major highlight is the weekly Teen Gaming Program every Wednesday afternoon, where local youth can connect in a safe, air-conditioned environment to play Nintendo Switch games, participate in art projects, and build community.

Just down the road, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is hosting its annual Summer Camp sessions. These programs provide 75 Philadelphia youth with hands-on experiences in hiking, kayaking, fishing, archery, and water testing. The Friends of Heinz Refuge (FOHR) generously provides bus transportation and snacks, making these invaluable outdoor experiences accessible to families who might otherwise face barriers to participation.

These programs represent vital investments in our community's future, providing safe spaces and enriching experiences for our next generation. EFNC encourages families to take full advantage of these local resources.

⚠️ COMMUNITY CONCERN: Navigating Extreme Heat and Poor Air Quality

While we celebrate summer activities, we must also address the severe environmental challenges that accompany the season. The recent Fourth of July weekend brought a dangerous combination of extreme heat and poor air quality that disproportionately impacts Southwest Philadelphia residents.

On July 5th, the City of Philadelphia declared both a Code Orange Ozone Action Day and a Fine Particles Action Day, alongside an extended Heat Health Emergency. For Eastwick—a community already burdened by cumulative environmental justice issues including proximity to the airport, highways, and industrial sites—these conditions pose serious health risks, particularly for our seniors, children, and those with respiratory conditions like asthma.

What EFNC is Doing:

EFNC continues to advocate for comprehensive environmental justice policies that address the root causes of our local air quality issues. We are pushing for increased tree canopy coverage to combat the urban heat island effect and demanding stricter oversight of industrial emissions affecting our neighborhood.

This week, EFNC board members have been actively engaged in several key initiatives:

• Community Safety Partnership: Coordinating with the Clean Air Council on the purchase of walkie talkies for the Eastwick Town Watch, enhancing communication and safety coordination across our neighborhood.

• Flood Resilience Planning: Attended and participated in the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability's Eastwick Flood Mitigation Brainstorming session to discuss flood control options now that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have determined that their levee project will not be advancing. This collaborative effort is critical to developing alternative solutions for our community's flood vulnerability.

Take Action to Stay Safe:

During extreme heat and Code Orange days, residents are strongly advised to limit strenuous outdoor activities, especially during the afternoon hours. If you or a neighbor lack access to air conditioning, please utilize the City's cooling centers or call the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) Heatline at 215-765-9040. We urge all residents to check on elderly neighbors and those living alone during these severe weather events.

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

📸 NATURE IN FOCUS PHOTO COMPETITION & EXHIBITION

The Nature In Focus Photo Competition is accepting submissions through July 31, 2026. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just capturing moments with your smartphone, we encourage you to submit your best shots of the refuge. Visit fohrefuge.org/nature-in-focus-2026 for full details and to submit your photos.

💡 COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Clean Philly Now and Trash Academy Mapping Initiative Clean Philly Now and Trash Academy are leading a data-driven mapping initiative to identify, document, and ultimately eliminate legacy dumping sites across Eastwick and neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. EFNC is proud to be a collaborative partner in this important initiative. More updated information about citywide dumpsite mapping events will be shared before September.

Eastwick Flood Collaboration Project EFNC is proud to be a collaborative partner in this important initiative. Are you a survivor of Tropical Storm Isaias? Lutheran Congregational Services and Rutgers University are collaborating to document recovery stories and identify ongoing needs in Eastwick. Your voice matters in shaping future resilience strategies.

Community Fridges and Free Food Access Philly's first community fridge opened in August 2020, and the movement has only continued to grow—there are now over 40 community fridges around the city. All of these mutual aid sites rely on volunteer support for tasks like cleaning, stocking, shopping, and larger donation pickups. While we continue to search for an Eastwick-specific community fridge site, residents can get involved with neighborhood fridge partners by checking out their websites and social media, or by downloading the Philly Food Rescue app to help distribute fresh food to community fridges and other locations throughout Philadelphia.

Philly 311 Non-Emergency Services For issues regarding illegal dumping, overgrown vacant lots, or abandoned vehicles, residents are encouraged to use the Philly311 system. You can submit requests via the Philly311 mobile app, online portal, or by calling 3-1-1.

🗣️ FUTURE TOPICS: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

What other topics would you like to learn about in The Eastwick Bulletin? Whether it's updates on specific infrastructure projects, profiles of community leaders, or deep dives into local history, send your suggestions to [email protected]. .

📸 SEND US YOUR PHOTOS

We see the pictures of Eastwick's flooded streets, sandbags lining garages, and illegal dumping. But Eastwick is a wonderful community to live in and raise a family in, like so many others across the country. People go to work, kids go to school. Holiday decorations get hung and taken down. Springtime flowers bloom and fall leaves get raked. Kids learn to ride bikes and go off to youth sports.

Let's show the world the real Eastwick! Send in pictures of the Eastwick you want the World to know. Email your photos to [email protected] with a brief description, and we may feature them in an upcoming newsletter.

📢 SHARE THE WORD

Enjoying these updates? Tell your friends and neighbors! They can subscribe to The Eastwick Bulletin here: Subscribe to our newsletter

🤝 ABOUT EFNC AND JOIN OUR BOARD

The Eastwick Friends and Neighbors Coalition (EFNC) brings together community stakeholders to advocate for an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable future for Eastwick.

We are currently seeking passionate residents to join the EFNC Board! If you want to make a tangible difference in your community, we need your expertise. We are particularly looking for individuals with skills in:

• Social Media and Digital Communications

• Event Planning and Community Organizing

• Computer Skills and Data Management

• Grant Writing and Fundraising

• Communications and Public Relations

Interested in getting involved? Contact us at [email protected] or visit our website at eastwickfnc.org.

Until next time,
The EFNC Team